A/N Err… Sorry about the longer-than-necessary wait… I suck like that. I just tend to lose track of time and before I know it, a month's passed. So again, I'm sorry!

Also, Jason is MINE! So you can't have him! Unless you ask nicely.

Enjoy!

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It was now early December and the ground had a few patches of snow on it from where it hadn't quite melted yet from the slight snow storm from the week before.

Seven was lying on the bed, with her head resting on Cedric's stomach while he ran his fingers through her long hair, in the room they had found just before the first task. She had overheard a seventh year say it was called the Room of Requirement, you walk passed it three times and it will become equipped with the seekers needs. But for some reason it always stayed the same for them.

Seven let out a sigh as she closed her eyes.

"I can't wait until this whole Tournament is over and done with." She muttered, turning her head to look at Cedric.

"You and me both." He agreed before giving her a small smile.

Just then, the door was slammed open and two figures stumbled into the room, firmly attached at the lips.

Seven and Cedric sat up on the bed before Cedric cleared his throat, gaining their intruders attention.

"Cho?" Seven asked, disbelievingly as she stood from the bed. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"It looks to be the same that you're doing with him." Cho said, glaring at Cedric. "How could you?!"

"Hey! You're the one that's cheating on me with… Who the fuck are you anyway?!" Seven shouted at the previously ignored Ravenclaw boy.

"Um… Jason Peirce-"

"You're cheating on me with Jason Peirce!" Seven exclaimed while pointing a finger in his direction.

"Well, you're cheating on me with Cedric Diggory!" Cho countered as she indicated Cedric.

"Bitch!" Seven yelled.

"Slut!" Cho shouted back.

By this time Jason had walked over to the bed and sat down next to Cedric.

"Did you know they were together?" Cedric asked while watching the verbal fight between the couple.

"No. Cho never mentioned anything about it." Jason said. "Did you?"

"Did I what?" Cedric asked, seeming to be too caught up in the fight to remember what they were talking about.

"Did you know that Cho and Seven were a couple?" Jason repeated.

"No" Cedric replied, still watching Seven and Cho.

"YEAH?! Well, you gained eight pounds since we started dating!" Cho recoiled a bit at that before shouting:

"We're over!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!" And with that Cho stormed out of the room.

"That bitch!" And Seven too left the room in a huff, leaving behind two very confused sixth year boys.

"Did we just breakup the hottest couple in Hogwarts?" Jason asked with a furrowed brow.

Cedric snorted. "Yeah, I think we did."

Seven was sitting on her bed in the Gryffindor Girl's dormitory, blaring the WWN on the only station that played Muggle music, the mantra of She's a bitch playing over and over in her head.

"Seven?" Someone shouted through the curtains that were pulled closed around her.

Seven didn't answer.

"Come on, Seven, I know you're there." The person persisted.

Seven groaned before sticking her head out of the curtains.

"What?" She snapped, turning off the radio at her bedside.

"You kind of ran up here in a huff, I was wondering what was wrong." The girl said.

"Since when do you care?" Seven asked.

"I care about my friends." She stated.

"We're not friends, Hermione." Seven stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world… it was.

Hermione sighed as she sat on the bed next to Seven. "I know… And I want to fix that."

Seven looked at her suspiciously.

"Look," Hermione started. "I know we've never really gotten along… And I know why… But, I really want to be your friend… to be there for each other, I'm not saying we're going to be the best of friends, but… I'd really love to try."

Seven sighed. "I just hope you know that this doesn't mean I'm going to be spilling all of my deep, dark secrets to you anytime soon."

Hermione smiled.

It was an odd sight, really. For it is not very often that you see the "Girl Who Lived" acting civil with the "Bookworm of Hogwarts". Yet here they were, walking toward the Transfiguration classroom and talking in low tones, as to not be overheard.

"Are you going home for Christmas?" Hermione asked Seven about half way to their destination. Seven shook her head.

"No, Cedric invited me to his house. Hello Ginny." She greeted the redheaded girl as they passed each other.

"Hey Seven! We'll talk at dinner, kay?" Ginny asked while walking backwards at a fast pace.

"Okay." Seven smiled, watching Ginny turn back around and fast walk to her class.

"So, you're friends with Ginny Weasley?" Hermione asked a few seconds later.

"Yeah, we're really close, despite Ronald. She invited me to see the Quidditch World Cup over the summer but I couldn't… make it." Seven sped up, causing Hermione to run to catch up with her.

"Why-" Hermione was interrupted by running into the door to the classroom that had just been opened by Seven, who couldn't figure out how Hermione could have missed her opening it.

"Are you okay?" She asked as Hermione brought a hand to her red forehead.

"Ye-yeah, I'm fine. Let's go in."

"I have something to say to you all." McGonagall said a few minutes before the bell would ring to signal the end of class. "The Yule Ball is approaching – a traditional part of the Tri-Wizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years and above- although you may invite a younger student if you wish-"

Seven listened with one ear as she was still trying to make the wing on her Guinea Pig go away, having gotten everything else right half way through the lesson.

"Dress robes will be worn," McGonagall continued, "and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. Now then-"

The professor stared deliberately around the class.

"The Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to-er- let our hair down." She said, in a disapproving voice.

Seven rolled her eyes at Lavender's giggling, as she finally got that pestering wing off of her cute Guinea Pig and scratching said rodent under its chin, causing it to squeak happily. Really, that sound was going to be stuck in her head for the rest of the week, the giggling, that is.

"But that does NOT mean," McGonagall went on, "that we will be relaxing the standards of behavior we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way."

The bell rang and there was the usual scuffle of activity as everyone packed their bags. McGonagall was some how able to call above the noise, "Potter, a word, if you please."

Seven, figuring this had something to do with her slowness with today's lesson, went up to her professor's desk. McGonagall waited until the last of the students left the room before speaking. "Potter, the champions and their partners open the ball-"

"Open it how, exactly?" She interrupted.

"A dance." The professor answered curtly.

Seven looked gob smacked before thinking that Cedric would have to stay also, and smiled.

"Oh, okay." Seven said as she turned around and start to walk out of the room. "Thanks, professor!"

'Great, History of Magic next, hopefully I'll be able to get some sleep before Potions.' Seven thought to herself, not paying attention to where she was going.

"Oomf." A voice entered her ears as she felt herself collide into another body and falling to the floor, landing on her bum.

"Sorry." She said while getting to her feet and brushing off her robes.

"That's alright, Seven, you okay?" She looked up and saw Cedric.

"Oh, hey Cedric. I'm fine." Seven replied, swinging her bag strap over her head.

"Good." He said as he draped his arm around her shoulders and guiding her in the direction of the History classroom. "Hey did you hear?"

Seven looked at him weirdly. "About the Yule Ball?"

"Yeah." Cedric suddenly appeared nervous. "I was wondering…"

"Yes?" She asked, coming to a stop and looking up at Cedric.

"Um… Will you… Will you go with me?" Cedric's cheeks went a little pink as he rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand and looked away from her.

"Course I will." Seven smiled as he turned his head back to her, knowing he must have gotten whiplash as he did so.

"You will?"

"Yeah."

"Sorry, but I'm already going with someone." Seven told Neville after he had shyly asked her to go to the ball with him.

"Oh." Neville's cheeks went a red that would put the Weasley's hair to shame and stood up from the table.

"Hey Neville?" She called after him; he turned around to look at her. "You could try asking Ginny, I don't think any one has yet."

"Y-yeah, I think I will. Thanks Seven." Neville said before walking out of the Great Hall.

"So," Hermione started as she nudged Seven in the arm. "Who're you going with?"

Seven furrowed her brow. "I never told you?" Hermione shook her head in the negative. "Oh. I'm going with Cedric."

Hermione's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Oh come on!" Seven exclaimed. "It's not that big of a shock. He is my boyfriend, after all… I think…"

"You think?" Ginny asked disbelievingly as she sat down across from her and Hermione.

"We haven't talked about it." Seven defended before popping a pea into her mouth.

Ginny sighed. "Anyway, are you going with anyone, Hermione?"

"They only announced the ball today, Ginny; I have plenty of time to find someone to take."

Seven rolled her eyes as Ginny said "I'll take that as a no".

"How about you, Ginny?" Hermione asked while placing her napkin on top of her plate.

"Now that you mention it… I'm going with Neville. He just asked me and I thought, well, I won't be able to go otherwise." Ginny said with a smile.

"Plus you fancy him." Seven stated with a gloating expression.

"I-I…" Ginny sighed at the expressions her friends were sporting. "Okay, I kinda do…"

Seven gave a loud squeal, causing the halls closest occupants to turn and stare at her.

"'Scuse you." She said hotly and everyone turned back to their dinners. "That's great Gin! I'm-"

"Enough about that," Ginny interrupted, eagerness written all over her face. "Tell us more about you relationship with Cedric Diggory."

Seven gave a small sigh. "I don't even know what our relationship is. I mean, we've kissed a couple of times, but that's all."

"You've kissed him?!" Ginny asked in a stage whisper, kicking Hermione's foot under the table to gain her attention, which had wondered off to Merlin knows where.

Seven rolled her eyes. "Yeah, otherwise I wouldn't have said so." Ginny stuck her tongue out at her.

"So? How'd he ask you?" Hermione asked, leaning in closer to hear better.

"It was so sweet." Seven smiled at the memory. "He was walking me to History of Magic, and he asked me. Stumbled over his words, though. But it was cute!" Ginny and Hermione laughed at the thought of Cedric Diggory stuttering. "Now that's mean." Seven told them, throwing a pea at each of their heads.

"Is he a good kisser?" Ginny asked, leaning forward in her eagerness. Seven bit her bottom lip before giving a small nod and smiling a little.

Before either girls could respond, the object of their discussion sat down on the other side of Seven and rested his head on his folded arms on top of the table.

"Long day?" Seven asked him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Cedric merely grumbled at her, to which, Seven swatted his arm.

"Hey!" Cedric pouted. "What was that for?" Seven shook her head at him.

"I prefer answers, darling, which mmmbrrga definitely doesn'tqualifyfor." She told him.

Cedric rolled his eyes and sat up. "Yes." He said. "It's been a long day. So, what were you three talking about?"

"The Yule Ball." Hermione said. "I was thinking of straightening my hair for it… what do you think, Cedric?"

Ginny took her queue from Hermione. "I was thinking of wearing a push-up. You know, make these" She grabbed her breasts and pushed them up a little. "look a tad bit bigger. Think it's a good idea, Ced?"

"Oh… um…" He looked about uneasily for a moment before turning back to the expectant girls. "I- I think I see one of my… yeah, see you!" Cedric stood from his seat and all but ran over to his housemates.

"You guys are mean!" Seven scolded her friends after watching an extremely red Cedric sit down next to one of his friends.

The other girls just smiled at her.

Seven was lying on her bed on her stomach with her father's book lying open in front of her and her curtains drawn closed around her.

It was close to midnight and all of her roommates were asleep, judging by the soft snores and mumbled words that were coming from them.

Seven had cast a Lumos spell and leaned her wand against the pages in order to read.

It was mostly ways to execute pranks (Going to the kitchens helps tremendously with pranks. House Elves are more than willing to help as long as no one gets hurt… physically. The book had said) and how not to.

She skipped ahead a few pages and saw a folded piece of parchment stuck between two pages. Seven pulled it out and unfolded it.

Dear Heir,

As you have come by this book, it would seem that you are (one of) the Heir(s) to the Marauders! Now, before you start jumping up and down and hollering with excitement, you must know that it is not an easy assignment. Of course, if you're like Padfoot and/or Prongs, you'll most likely have no problem. (Smiley face)

Alrighty, you are more than likely to know of our being the first group of Marauders, meaning you know some (if not most) of our secrets. Though, if Lily, Lacey, or Lynn had anything to say about it, you probably don't know a single thing. Such a shame. If that is the case (and even if it's not), read this book in its entirety!

Now! Your mission, if you choose to accept it (and you better) is to use the prank on page 93 of this book before school year's end. We were going to do it at the Leaving Feast of our last year, but we were caught by the Lovely Ladies (as we had taken to call them). Do us proud!

Your Godly leaders,

Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs.

'Who are Lacey and Lynn?' Seven thought to herself after reading the small letter. She scanned the note again and saw a post script.

P.S. Turn to page 69.

"Um… Yeah." Seven mumbled quietly as she folded the parchment and turned ahead to the suggested page.

In between pages 69 and 70 was a wizarding photo of a group of teenagers; four males and three females waving at the camera. Seven only recognized her parents, Godfather, and Remus Lupin. The other boy had to be Peter then. 'He's changed since he was young.' She thought.

The other two girls in the photo (one standing in front of Sirius and one in front of Remus) were complete strangers to the fourteen year old. 'Old girlfriends, I'm guessing. Wonder what happened to them…'

Seven watched as the captured form of the young Sirius swung the girl who was blocking her view of her Godfather over his broad shoulder and spun around, the others in the picture giving them a wide berth. Had there been sound, Seven would know that the unknown girl was squealing in happiness.

Seven turned the photo over and saw the names of the people in it in precise handwriting.

Right to left: James, Lily, Sirius, Lacey, Remus, Lynn. 1978

Suddenly, she heard one of her roommates groan and their covers shift as they sat up from their bed. She whispered Nox to make the light of her wand go away before said roommate saw it and waited for the sound of the door to the adjoining lavatory to close before closing her book, saying the words to cause it to go blank, and placing the photo under her pillow.

Seven was asleep before the girl came out of the bathroom.

..::ooOOOoo::..

A/N There you have it! Seeing as how it's my birthday tomorrow (the 2nd, I'll be 15), I decided to give myself the gift of reviews. (smiley face) Again, I'm so sorry about the almost 6 month wait. I'll try to not let it happen again. Keyword being: TRY. Okay, hope you like and please review! And also feel free to tell me how much I suck and/or blow for making you wait so long.

And just so you know, I've gotten the inspiration for Seven's 5th year (the third story in this series) and some of her 6th (fourth story) while I was writing this chapter. And I'm sorry to say (kinda… not really) that I'll be killing off a character. I'm not telling you who yet, though. I just feel they need to die.